Media
|
Transcripts
May 6, 2026
SHARRI MARKSON: Well, let's return now to today's top story on the ISIS brides, and I'm joined by Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson. James, thank you so much for joining us. You're in the seat of Farrer at the moment, and we'll come back to the activity that's been going on there shortly. But I just want to start with the AFP Commissioner, Krissy Barrett, today, confirming our earlier report that some of these ISIS cohort will be arrested on arrival. Given this confirmation, do you have questions about whether there are other avenues open to the Albanese government?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Yes, I have very serious questions about this Sharri, because if a threshold is met for arrest and criminal charges of these ISIS members, then why wasn't the threshold met for a temporary exclusion order to keep them out of our country, and why wasn't the threshold met to have their passports refused and cancelled? If these people are sufficiently of concern to the AFP that they can be investigated, arrested and charged, then they should meet these thresholds for both a temporary exclusion order and passport refusal, and it really is up to the Albanese Government to explain why they haven't taken those avenues to protect our country and keep these people out.
SHARRI MARKSON: Is that something you'll be seeking more clarity on?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Yes, absolutely, we have Senate estimates coming up in a few weeks, and I know my colleague Jonno Duniam, our Shadow Home Affairs Minister, will be taking up this issue very robustly.
SHARRI MARKSON: I mean, it will be a pretty shocking sight, really, to see them arrive tomorrow at the airport after they literally left Australia to join a death cult.
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: I think you're right Sharri, I mean, these are people who made a choice, they made a choice to leave one of the most prosperous, safe, harmonious liberal democracies on the planet, and they went to join a listed terrorist organisation that was trying to establish an Islamist caliphate that raped, and murdered, and tortured people of other ethnicities and faiths under their control. I mean I think they've effectively repudiated their loyalty to Australia and I think they should live with those consequences.
SHARRI MARKSON: If you were in government, you wouldn't have them be returning, would you?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: We would use every lawful means to keep these people out of the country, including refusing to provide them with passports and using the temporary exclusion orders to keep them offshore.
SHARRI MARKSON: Do you think there should be an inquiry, just moving to another topic now, do you think there should be an inquiry into the vetting procedures in Home Affairs after they allowed the American YouTuber Sneako into the country and then kicked him out after media revelations?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Yes, I mean, Sharri, you're a great journalist, but you shouldn't be the last line of defence for Australia's borders. The Department of Home Affairs should be identifying problematic people like that and protecting our country from them. If Mike Pezzullo's revelations are right, that the Department of Home Affairs abolished their intelligence division, and that has contributed to extremists being allowed into our country, then I think this needs to be investigated by the Bondi Royal Commission. I think the Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, should be called to give evidence about what he knew about the decision to abolish this and I think the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Stephanie Foster, should testify to explain if it is true that she made the decision, to abolish this unit that existed under her predecessor, which was designed to screen visa applicants who are a risk to national security. It's clearly a failure of Home Affairs under the current regime, and we need to understand why.
SHARRI MARKSON: Seems like a sensible solution to have the Royal Commission examine it. I don't know the process to actually get them to have a look at that, but it does seem sensible. James, you're currently in Albury, it's in the Farrer electorate ahead of Saturday's by-election. Now you've had, well, you were, as you put it in the video, you claimed that you were assaulted this afternoon. One Nation leader, you might not have seen this yet James, but One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has tonight apologised to you. For one of her volunteers, taking your phone, clashing or harassing you earlier. Let's have a look.
[CLIP START]
ONE NATION VOLUNTEER: Are you getting a video?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Yes I am. Oi, give that back!
ONE NATION VOLUNTEER: You don't video me, mate. You don't video me without my bloody knowledge, mate!
SENATOR PAULINE HANSON: We apologise to him for what happened, and we've said we'll make every assistance possible if you want to undertake a police investigation that we will encourage our volunteers who witnessed it to make their statements.
[CLIP END]
SHARRI MARKSON: So, James, do you accept the apology? What actually happened, and are police now investigating?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: I'm grateful for Pauline Hanson's apology, that's very gracious of her, and James Ashby and David Farley, the One Nation candidate, both called me this afternoon to personally apologise and say that the volunteer in question will not be returning to the booths. This all started over a National Party sign on the booth that talked about David Farley's record of being a member of the Labor Party, who sought Labor Party pre-selection and donated to the Labor Party, and in my view, those are facts which the voters in Farrer deserve to know before they make their choice about whether or not he would be a good representative for them. And I think One Nation has to accept, as we all do in public life, that legitimate public scrutiny of our record is part of standing for public office.
SHARRI MARKSON: Just the point of, I know this has been referred to the Federal Police, do you expect they will be investigating?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Look, I don't feel the need to press charges personally, Sharri. I am perfectly fine. It was a bit of a scuffle, but I am ok. And I think One Nation, to their credit, have taken this issue seriously and addressed it by removing their volunteer from the booth. But I think it does show the pressure that they're under here locally. I think David Farley has had a few missteps as a candidate. He's made contradictory statements to One Nation both on reducing immigration, on increasing foreign aid. And issues about his past have emerged. Not only did he have a flirtation with Labor, he had a flirtation with the Teals as well. And I think, as One Nation insiders have told the media, he's regarded as a serious flight risk if he is elected. He could very easily join the crossbench, where he might be more comfortable and defect from One Nation if he is elected. And I think voters have to weigh that decision very carefully before Saturday.
SHARRI MARKSON: James, the reality is voters aren't voting for him. They're voting for Pauline Hanson. I mean, Farrer has been a safe Coalition seat for decades, I think since 1949. But it does look like it will fall to One Nation on Saturday. And it's because of that support for Pauline Hanson, isn't it?
SENATOR JAMES PATERSON: Look, I think One Nation started this contest unbackable favourites given the circumstances of the by-election, given the national polling that we entered into this race and given that it's a regional electorate where they tend to do better. But I think David Farley's missteps along the campaign trail have brought him a bit back towards the field, and it may end up being a bit more competitive. But certainly they were the odds-on favourite at the start of this campaign, there's no doubt about that.
SHARRI MARKSON: All right, James Paterson, thank you very much for joining us this late at night, really appreciate it.
ENDS